I have a friend who has asked me to help him choose a bike, on the basis that I am a keen cyclist. However he has a max budget of £300, and I suspect he would like to spend significantly less.
Being a keen cyclist I would probably find it easier to choose him a bike for £1000 than £300, however. In that price range they all seem quite similar, and the recent price hikes mean that you don't seem to get much for your money.
So, STW, are there any bargains or 'obvious choices' in the <£300 price range, or should I just trawl Evans etc. discount section, and painfully compare the bikes component by component.. Acera vs Alivio blah blah blah..?
Apparently it needs to be able to go off road (not to be confused with mountain biking), and handle a 5mile commute (predominantly road).
Thanks all!
